MCN Fleet

This time of year depresses me - the days are grey, nights are long and winter feels like it’s never going to end. There is one ray of sunshine though, my daily commute on the Yamaha XMAX 400...

On paper, a 650cc sportsbike should be no fun at all to ride through the winter but actually the Honda CBR650R has really come into its own as the temperature has dropped and the nights have drawn...

The start of every year is always filled with such high expectation of rides, adventures and quality time on your bike. But life is busy and it’s so easy for the summer months to drift past and you...

The look of a bike is one thing, but the sound of a bike, well now you’re talking. For me, my ultimate is a big thumping single. To my ears, it’s unbeatable. The big twin Triumph Scrambler 1200XE...

Suzuki somewhat jumped on the bandwagon with the 2019 Katana having no doubt seen the success of the Kawasaki Z900RS. Take a tried and tested road bike, in this case the Suzuki GSX-S1000, give it a...

Looking back on those heady days of Springtime, when the tarmac was warm and the Triumph Speed Twin's odometer was only showing triple digits, I distinctly remember wondering about how much abuse the...

For the last eight months, I have marvelled at the Kawasaki Versys 1000 SE's seemingly faultless reliability, continually carrying me across the country in refined, silky-smooth comfort, despite daily...

One of the cool things about niche bikes like the Ducati Scrambler Café Racer is that owners tend to be real enthusiasts and there are a couple of really active Facebook groups where the Scrambleristi...

It’s been an interesting year of riding; not my most enjoyable but that’s not the fault of the beautiful Ducati Diavel 1260S. The bike’s a stunner and has a shopping list of top spec parts that...

419 miles Friday 31 May. Moments after grabbing the keys to my 2019 BMW S1000RR I’m heading to the Nürburgring, marvelling at my Beemer’s lightness and low-down torque. Cruise control, heated...

It’s just gone 1.30am as I fire up the Niken’s triple and prepare to negotiate my way off the Steam Packet’s catamaran on my return from the Isle of Man. I’m one of the last to leave, mainly because...

For the most part, the Indian FTR1200S is great out of the crate but (there’s always a but) the stock Dunlop DT3-R tyres leave a lot of room for improvement. In the dry they’re fine but the savage...

I really wanted to find a catastrophic flaw in the BMW R1250GSA’s skill set this year. It’s nothing personal, but having covered around 35,000 miles on GSs over the last five years, the cachet of...

Update 15: Retracing My Steps It’s been a fun-filled ten months and life won’t be the same now I’ve said goodbye to the Yamaha Tracer 900GT. With my longest solo tour to date, and weekends away with...

Or at least I think it is… Over the last 11 months the £6199 Suzuki SV650X has wormed its way into my heart and I will be sad to see it go back to its true custodians in the coming weeks. With...

One of the real benefits of adventure bikes is that you can lug stuff around easily – whether that’s a load of camping gear to Africa, or the Christmas shop back from Sainsburys. Like most...

Update 9: Ducati V4 S - 8467 miles of V4 heaven Published 9 January 2019 A look back on my year with Ducati's stunner: 626 miles Friday 20th April: collect my V4 S from Ducati UK, Silverstone. Scoot...

It might seem like a fair amount of riding for nine months of movement, but 9612 miles disappear with no effort whatsoever aboard the Ninja H2 SX SE. If I hadn’t been distracted by other two-wheeled...

Over the last six months our Yamaha MT-09SP test bike has been subjected to everything from 900-mile days, to commuting to fast-group trackdays. We wanted to leave you with our final thought on the SP...

Service please! Barely having cocked my leg over the new Honda CB1000R, I find myself riding it off to Honda for its first service, I arrive with 601 miles on the clock, perfect. With the engine...

Ducati Scrambler 1100 Special long term test review Sports reporter Oli Rushby is spending the summer with Ducati's Scrambler 1100 Special... as well as a hefty 138-mile round trip commute to our...

What have we learned after 6000 miles on the café-style Kawasaki Z900RS? After trackdays, commutes and even a trip to the TT, MCN Senior Road Tester Adam Child reveals all. Read the Kawasaki...

Q Do you miss having adjustable suspension? Johnny Hinds, on email In a way their absence of any damping adjusters is liberating, particularly at trackdays. This is an uncluttered motorcycle with a...

UPDATE 2: Getting Dirty with the F850 GS I have to admit that I’m not really the off road type. Sure I was a dirt bike junkie as a kid but my love for off road dwindled and I’ve become more...

I've had the odd go on an electric bike, but actually owning one, running one day in and day out is a whole different ball game. First of all there's the lack of a clutch, of gears, of engine noise.

MCN Fleet: Honda Africa Twin Adventure Sport On route to the TET - let the adventure begin Twelve months ago I met a guy who was on his way back from riding in Spain. He was on a fully loaded CCM...

When I took delivery of Suzuki’s A2-compliant GSX250R last August, I was full of interest. This was the smallest capacity bike I’d ridden since the unreliable (but beautiful) Aprilia RS50 I had at...

An email from MCN reader Jim Scott struck up the thought about the Yamaha XMAX 400’s seat height, something I never took a second look at before. Perhaps because I’ve ridden a few bikes now which I...

The term ‘Man maths’ refers to using semi-rational reasons, rather than the actual figures, to justify  your purchase. It’s an expression I use at home all-to-often. For example, last year I...

It’s an age since I first set eyes on the Honda X-ADV. Like all good love affairs I remember the exact moment in time, the MCN Show in London last year is etched on my mind for eternity. A three-month...

From my previous update, you’ll know I can fit three bags full of food under the seat of the XMAX. Now I was going to France for a weekend, could the 33bhp scoot hack going aboard? And be comfortable?...

I love the D940, it hugs the coast from Calais to Le Touquet, the undulating sweepers and fabulous final destination make it my obvious choice for a winter weekender. I’m sure a 500 mile trip in near...

The Rider’s View I’ve been riding for 13 years and whenever asked to take a pillion I’ve always dodged the bullet. The great ‘what if’ makes me twitchy and someone else’s safety being in my hands...

I’m proud to be an all-year-round rider. Britain’s winter might throw crappy weather, greasy roads and that lovely salt-laden sludge that seems to get just about everywhere at us, but there is still...

You may remember I was considering winterising the XMAX. You know the sort of thing: looking at different tyres, extended screens and hand guards, keeping on top of the grime... In truth, however –...

After two blown bulbs in 5450 miles and a two-week trip back to Suzuki to try and diagnose the problem during its 6000-mile service interval, it looked as if the GSX250R’s electrical woes had finally...